New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1887-01-12


tax laws OF the action 81 rno5e WHO aim ,,,.E.r
them. although he may have paid his tax ia fuIl
and within the statutory time advance no
censure Of the court, and find no good reason for
doubling the sincerity, high motive and lofty
Independence OF the judges. The provisions or
the statute are intricate, and there is Too much
room for division and doubt. The law should be
made so plain and simple as to exclude all uncsr-
| talnty. When property owner promptly paws
Into the hands OF public officer who has been
chosen by the people or duly appointed to COLI
lecJ Dhe revenue the taxes due on his property.
that act ought to relieve him at once and forever
from all the consequences attaching to dein-
Quency. When the citizen has done his full
| part-has borne the burden which the state has
imposed upon him--his financial ruin by :he
blunder or criminal connivancs OF a public Off
| laws. should be put beyond possibility It is
| true that by decision made in more recent
case, the repeal Of that clause Of the tax law
property for delinquent taxes shall be served
| upon the owner before the time of redemption
shall begin to run was held to be in contraven-
| ton OF The constitution and therefore void.
Yet personal notice is not required by that sec
tion OF the law in all cases, and may be safely
said TO be the exception in practice; Nor should
| the property owner VINO has paid his tax be re-
CURED to watch every step in the intricate pro-
ceedings by which payment of delinquent taxes
is enforced, to make sure that he be not de-
| voured by the tax title shark, or his property
| confiscated by the state Immediate steps
should be taken to make it impossible to COM
| NIT the wrong which the law now sanctions.
The main features of our tax laws, SO far as
am Informed are well understood and salts
factory in their operation. doubt not you
fully appreciate the Importance of law which
insures the prompt collection of the revenues,
aud that, in remedying the wrong complained
| of, you will keep this fact in view.
THE LIQUOR TRAFFIC
You will be called upon at this session to con-
slider measures looking to the further regulation
OF the liquor business in this state. The people
| have pronounced in favor of high license, local
option and the rigid enforcement of the laws re-
lating to the liquor traffic" and now turn to you
In the hope and expectation that you will, in the
form If suitable legislation. give effect to the
! verdict which they have found. Outside of the
| limited number engaged in the liquor traffic in
| this state. the people, by very large majority
and without regard to political parties, favor
the measures proposed. 1 can reason why
| the desired legislation should not be promptly
enacted. 1t is undoubtedly true that while the
question OF high license does not properly relate
to party politics, it is one OF intense interest to
the liquor vendors OF the state, and in cities,
! and large towns has become the predominant
issue at every election. The liquor interests
organized as compact power for the avnwed
| purpose Of combating all efforts looking to the
further regulation OF the liquor traffic. The eff
feet OF such on organization in such a case can
not be otherwise than harmful All questions
are made secondary to that Of high license and
every man who stands tor office--and more par
brunt Of their united opposition, in
many cases Gaming utter defeat from the OUT
| set. In all candor submit to you if this is not
a pernlcious influence on the legislation of the
! state Two years ago high license bill was be-
fore the legislature, with every prospect of be-
| the organized efforts of the liquor interests
This organization is much stronger to-day than
| 1T was then and will no doubt oppose with a zeal
! worthy OF a better cause the measures proposed
| But trust this legislature elected on the issue
| Of high license and local option" is also
stronger on this subject than it's predecessor.
| and that it has the courage and independence to
| refuse to be bound and controlled by the liquor
| dealers. have no word to utter against these
men, am am willing to concede that many OF them
regard the proposed measures as an infringe
ment on their personal rights and liberty, but in
the name OF that great body of our citizens who
believe in sobriety, in law and order. and who
recognize and deplore the evils traceable to the
| liquor traffic, I protest against that interest
being permitted to dominate the legislation of
| duty to eliminate as far as practicable these
evils. It is believed that high license and local
| option will minimize them. Sharing in this be-
lief, and de lring to keep faith with the people,
recommend the enactment of suitable and eff
| Gent legislation TO carry the proposed measures
| into effect.
| PRISON LABOR. r.
| During the last few years-and more especially
|
prison labor and it's effect on free labor. when
brought into competition Herewith. has received
much earnest consideration enot only by labor
organizations throughout the country, but ty
thoughtful men in the professions and other
walks of life, whose only interest in the matter
has been one of justice to all parties concerned,
| and OF good to society. That prisoners should
work does not admit of argument. For reasons
OF discipline and health. if for no other, they
must be kept employed. But how to do this and
not bring the products of their labor into COM
| petition with those OF free workingmen and me-
chanics is problem which has engaged the at
tention Of many earnest and able men, and
| which you will probably be called upon to con-
slder at this session. am well convinced that
the system Of letting the prison labor out by
contract to the lowest bidder. now prevailing in
| this state, is unjust In many ways, and should
be abolished; and to this end recommend such
| legislation as will prohibit it's extension beyond
| the term of the present contract. The price
paid by the contractor In Minnesota per convict
! is ~ cents day, and this labor is utilized in
! the manufacture Of articles which are sold in
manufactured by free labor. The inevitable re-
suit of this system is reduce the wages of free
| mechanics, and in numbers of cases in
| other states has broken down manufacturing
| establishments and thrown hundreds of me-
chanics and other workingmen out Of employ
ment. With this state CT things existing it is
| free labor complain. I confess the fullest SYM
pathy with them A state can not be greater
than its citizens. Its prosperity is measured by
theirs, and whatever contributes to their adj
vantage adds to its greatness. It may be found
on investigation that the evils resultant from
the system in this state are not SC great as
represented nevertheless the system is bad and
should be abolished. Free labor naturally rebels
against competition with the labor of criminals,
and who can blame it? It should be the policy
| of the state to exalt and dignity labor, and to
conserve III every reasonable and proper way
the interests Of It's laboring men. In This spirit
recommend the abrogation OF the system in
Minnesota, and commend the matter to you in
| the expectation that whatever legislation is
necessary to bring this about you will freely
grant.
| DRAINAGE
In July last delegate convention Of residents
and property owners of that portion of the Red
river valley lying In Minnesota was held at the
| city of Crookston, to devise means and adopt
methods for comprehensive system of drainage
for that fertile section Of the state. The action
of the convention resulted In the employment of
competent engineers to make surveys adopt a
| plan and report at subsequent meeting, with
! estimates of the cost Of the proposed work. The
report has been submitted and / am informed,
will be laid before you with a request for legis-
| latton in furtherance OF the enterprise The
oIop,o TO- Of